Anchor Point

Flux Anchors

Two ancient structures rest at the poles of planet Ascendus. The massive devices utilize an ancient Necron terraforming method, breathing life into long dead celestial objects. A thick Osmium Alloyed shell helps dissipate reactionary heat and protect the intricate quantum system within. By harnessing abundant internal energy, these Flux Anchors maintain rhythmic planetary motion, normalize terrestrial surface temperatures, and preserve the delicate polarity fields sustaining the atmosphere on Ascendus. However, the timeworn mechanisms require an immense power reservoir.

The Chronos is a dying star. Time, energy, and mass are distorted and amplified as the being edges closer to demise. The flux field between the anchors resists the stellar collapse, drawing out the catastrophic explosion into one concentrated energy stream. The Chronos is ceaselessly tortured as one agonizing moment is stretched ad infinitum. Bit by bit, the Chronos’ energy is slowly siphoned away. In the 7 Million years which Sentry has defended the Star God Chronos, a mere 0.43% of the entity’s power has been depleted. An incredibly efficient engine, the Flux Anchor system is among the oldest and most significant of all Necrontyr technological advancements.


A Call to Arms
Nephros had barely left his chambers when a crippling pain erupted in Sentry’s mind. A failsafe set in place millennia ago had torn through derelict synaptic matter, burning with urgency. The southern Flux Anchor was in jeopardy. Sentry staggered to his feet, fumbling forward in hurried momentum. He had to act quickly. He sprinted through the tomb hangar, waking the arks and powering the barges. He flew through the destroyer tomb, resurrecting the sleeping giants. Finally he made his way to the Guardian Temple, resting place of the Pariahs. These elite warriors were specially chosen by Sentry before his exile. Vowing allegiance, the devoted Lychguard elected to be banished with their master. Sentry lovingly named these 10 champions “Pariahs” for their dutiful sacrifice. Their Service would now be required to defeat the entropic fiends of Chaos before the balance of the planet shifts out of control.

Flanked by silent skimmer tanks, the Pariahs had formed a small phalanx. Sentry stood at the foot of the megalithic anchors, each buzzing with concentrated energy harvested from within. With mechanical sight, he saw them coming. Miles in the distance hungry tanks dozed through thick sands, sluggishly advancing through the unfavorable terrain. Hellish bikes kicked up thick clouds of dust that had remained undisturbed for millennia.

The enemy was now close enough to lock eyes with Sentry’s forces. As the sun began to set, rays of scattered light danced over the Ghost Ark’s living metal hulls. Against the amber backdrop of dusk, a glorious battle was about to unfold. Sentry held his scythe high and urged his warriors forward, maintaining a hard front line. His barricade would not yield without great resistance.

Without warning, a shriek pierced the air from the left flank. Grand Cryptek Oshast had unleashed an Eldritch lance from within the metal ribs of his Ghost Ark. Immediately, the targeted enemy Rhino erupted into a flash of hot ash.

Confused and enraged, the forces of chaos charged into battle.

From behind the calamity, a Vindicator let loose a bellowing blast. Arcing over the battlefield, Sentry watched in horrified slow motion as the projectile collided with one of the Flux Anchor spires. A concussive wave resonated from the base as the pillar crumbled. Intense heat poured out of fresh cracks in the ground. The Device was becoming unstable.

Sentry peered out at the tank in the distance. He would not let another shot like that get through. Transmitting wirelessly across the planet, he called in an air strike. Within seconds a Doom Scythe screamed to the target, carving a bright line of destruction across the back field. The beam sawed through two of the enemy tanks with ease, granting Sentry a temporary upper hand in the fight.

He quickened his blows, slicing through chaos tinged flesh with furious vigor. One by one, bodies fell in muddled heaps. Out of the back ranks, a beast sheathed in iron pounced. The ground trembled in the landing. In one great swing, Lord Cyron’s chaotic axe cleaved through one of the remaining anchor pillars. The ground heaved upward in protest. Geysers of steaming air punched through the soil like searing fingers. One last pillar remained. From atop his ironclad mount, Cyron smiled with psychotic delight. Glinting in the muted sunlight, his axe came down upon Sentry’s head.

The blow sent his heels digging into the dirt as he struggled to stay upright. While his thick tempered hide had absorbed the impact, small cracks began to form. Blow by blow, Sentry’s armor withstood the wicked trauma. While his body took the brunt of the attack, his mind retreated inward calculating the odds of victory. Sentry knew what had to be done. He dropped to the ground and rolled into an open fissure. Flames plumed skyward as his body sank like a stone through the bubbling molten material within. Driven by blind hatred and chaotic divinity, the enemy was too strong. He devised a plan. The Anchor would be lost.

As Sentry’s presence left the battlefield, his army began to phase out. One by one, the metal warriors retreated, sinking into the dust.

From the sky, a cluster of demonic terminators struck down on the planet’s surface. They had landed right next to their target, the last of the Anchor pillars. With no one around to stop them, the terminators opened fire at the remaining spire.

As its hulking mass came crashing down, the ground rose up to meet it. Waves of fluid energy pulsed frantically through the strata, writhing in unnatural swells. Cyron stood among the carnage and began to laugh.

Portal Ambush

The Return
By the time Nephros arrived, Sentry's searing glow had subsided. Small lines of white smoke still sizzled from his armor. His chest plate settled back into its tight fit. Nephros bowed deeply as he entered Sentry's presence.

“I've analyzed your transmission.” Sentry spoke quietly.

“The enemy has been silenced.” Nephros’ eyes remained fixed on the floor before him.

“I am fully aware. However, silent enemies cannot tell you their secrets. Silence is dangerous.” Wisps of remnant steam rippled through the air as he turned with lightning speed. In one fluid motion, Sentry bridged the gap between them as Nephros’ neck succumbed to his masters iron grip.

“Your victory was hastily obtained.” Sentry’s burning iron fingers clenched down on Nephros’ throat. “Tell me, how did you benefit from this encounter? What did you learn of your enemy by slaughtering them outright? How can you witness your opponents tactics when you cut them down before you open your eyes! To throw away such advantageous circumstance is shameful. Have I taught you nothing?” Sentry’s scowl dissolved into disappointment as his grasp released. “We do not kill for pleasure. If there is nothing to gain, we do not risk our resources.”

Hissing and wheezing through damaged vocal coils, Nephros regained his composure.

“My lord,” He paused, deep in thought, “I’ve shamefully endangered the lives of my brethren for a futile victory. I accept full responsibility for my actions. Deal with me as you see fit.”

“Nephros, it is statistically unfavorable for me to grant you another chance,” His words quivered with regret, “But I am not known to adhere to formulas and protocol. I will offer you one more chance, Nephros. If you fail me this time I cannot grant you the same liberty twice. Fortunately, you allotted enough time for one of them to signal back to their outpost. I've traced the coordinates and I want you to lead an offensive. Infiltrate the source and discover any and all information you can obtain. Do not let on that this is your intent. I do not yet know how the enemy would respond to such actions.”

“I do not wish to trouble you with trivial gratitude, but know that I will not forget your benevolence this day.” Nephros stood tall with a renewed sense of obedience. “I was foolish to forget my duties as a guardian. The acquisition of foreign knowledge is vital to our operation. I will see to it that we fully understand these alien beings such that we can eradicate every last intruder. The Chronos will be defended at all costs.”

“Remember,” Sentry’s eyes glared with furious intent. “Knowledge over victory.”


Ambush
They had found the Dark Eldar encampment. Just ahead of them, a patrol squad of heavily equipped scouts zoomed by. In the distance, an armored tower rose up from the dust. Snipers and other infantry lined the walls while some walked the perimeter of the wall below. Something seemed odd to Nephros as he looked out at the tower. The tower was not large enough to house all of the troops that flooded its walls. There were no storage buildings or hangars for ships. Then, on the vast field in front of the tower, a strange crackle of purple energy ripped through the air. From the tear, a body emerged, then another. In a matter of seconds, an entire platoon of Dark Eldar warriors had emerged from seemingly nowhere. It appeared that these mysterious beings had access to portal technology. This was no ordinary troop barracks, it was a relay hub. Nephros watched in awe at the foreign technology. This portal field was soon to be the grounds of a bloody battle. As the separated patrol party made its second round, Nephros and his warriors charged the field.

From across the field, the dark elder scouts spotted the advancing horde of automatons. Readying the splinter cannons and charging the dark lances, the Dark Eldar scouts took aim.

Suddenly aware of the impending attack, snipers took aim and warriors found their positions in the tower. Nephros knew they would not willingly surrender their secrets.

The first dark lance pierced through the air, shredding through the force field on the foremost Necron annihilation barge. Almost instantly, the vessel erupted in a cloud of dense smoke. The first blow had been struck.

Lashing out from behind an advancing ghost ark, a pack of bloodthirsty wraiths dashed up the field. The insectoid bodies slithered weightless of invisible currents, quickly closing the gap between them and the Dark Eldar scouts. Their writhing bodies phased through waves of enemy fire, each shot passing through them as they moved in on their prey. The scouts retreated to the tower, laying down covering fire as they backed away from the ravenous machine beasts.

All around them, the air cracked with chaotic energy. The field was alive with the warp. Small tears flashed and vanished in an instant. Nephros began to wonder if shots were piercing the void from another dimension. Perhaps the Dark Eldar had reinforcements miles or even light years away. Through the heated fog of battle, Nephros found his mind wandering at the possibilities. Sentry’s words echoed clearly through his synaptic coils, “Knowledge over victory.”

In a flash, Nephros and his retinue of immortal soldiers disappeared from the battlefield only to phase into battle a few yards downfield. They landed in the path of a cruising Venom and without thought, Nephros unleashed his staff of light upon it. A beam of brilliant white light radiated from his staff, halting the vehicle in its tracks.

Simultaneously down field, a beam of darkness pierced the sturdy hull of a friendly Ghost ark, shredding it at the molecular level, leaving nothing but a pool of liquid metal. The embarked warriors ducked low in the puddle, narrowly avoiding the same fate.

All across the field hell fire rained down as vehicles erupted and mangled bodies were thrown from the wreckage. Nephros and his soldiers were now covered in the thick warm blood of their enemies. Nephros marched forward, expressionless, as bullets gunned down his entire unit. He emerged alone, eyes transfixed on his target. Ahead of him, a Dark Eldar soldier fought off oncoming necron fire with his back to Nephros. Slowly but with conviction, Nephros approached the trooper, towering in silence behind him. Suddenly cast in shadow, the warrior turned in fear. With panicked rage, he swung at the iron giant. Before the blow could find its target, the machine’s cold eyes went dark and his mass collapsed on the field in a heap of clunking metal.

The battle had ended. In the wake of victory, the Dark Eldar rounded up their casualties and took the remaining Necron troops as prisoner. They approached Nephros’ body with caution. His body still emitted heat, despite no other sign of apparent life. Nephros listened from within as his body was bound and boarded on a passing slave ship. The Dark Eldar secrets would be revealed in due time. There was nothing left to do but wait.